defense secretary leon panetta would not be drawn on that earlier today. listen. >> without commenting on the specific intelligence that we have with regard to these chemical weapons, i think there is no question that we remain very concerned. the intelligent that we have raises serious concerns that this is being considered. >> certainly the alarm is nothing surrounded this time around. several nations and the u.n. secretary general have repeatedly warned that this is a potential threat and repeatedly warn president assad not to go through it here. >> shepard: there is another thought and dangerous one that assad is just playing a game. >> the idea that he is finally completely desperate. is he realizing finally that he is now surrounded by the rebels in damascus. they are getting closer and closer to it ousting him. that ouster, if he stays there, would end in his death. so, this might be a final negotiating employee on the -- ploy on the part of president assad with the international community. listen. >> another way to look at it though, he wants russi